Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator is disclosed. A freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber evaporator are installed at an inner side of a partition wall that partitions a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber from each other. Accordingly, the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber have deep depths thus to have large available capacities, thereby freshly receiving a large amount of food items. Furthermore, a cool air channel is formed at the freezing chamber door and the chilling chamber door so as to be connected to a cool air channel of the partition wall. Accordingly, a temperature difference between an inner space and a door basket does not occur, thereby storing food or beverage items received in the door basket with a fresh state.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a method for disposing an evaporator and a cool air channel for a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

A refrigerator is generally provided with a refrigerating cycle composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, and serves to store food items with a fresh state for a long period by supplying cool air generated from the evaporator to a freezing chamber or a chilling chamber.

Recently, a side-by-side refrigerator partitioned into right and left chamber by a partition wall, that is, a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber, is being widely used. As the side-by-side refrigerator becomes larger, a method for separately disposing evaporators at the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber has been disclosed. Here, the two evaporators may be serially connected to one refrigerating cycle, or may be installed at different refrigerating cycles. Also, the two evaporators may be installed at different refrigerating cycles with sharing one compressor.

However, in the conventional refrigerator having a plurality of evaporators, the evaporators are respectively installed at a rear surface of the freezing chamber and a rear surface of the chilling chamber. Accordingly, the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber respectively have a small available capacity and a shallow depth, thereby having a limitation in storing food items. Furthermore, since the evaporators are installed at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber, cool air is not uniformly distributed to inside of the refrigerator. Accordingly, food received in a front surface of the refrigerator or food received in a door basket may be easily rotten than food stored in a rear surface of the refrigerator.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of increasing available capacities of a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber by properly disposing evaporators.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of uniformly distributing cool air to inside thereof.

To achieve these objects, there is provided a refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having an inner space opened/closed by a refrigerator door; a partition wall having one or more first cool air channels therein and having a predetermined thickness and area, for partitioning the inner space of the refrigerator body into two ore more spaces; one or more evaporators installed at the first cool air channels, for generating cool air; and one or more fans installed at the first cool air channel, for supplying cool air generated from the evaporator to the corresponding space.

To achieve these objects, there is also provided a refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a freezing chamber that stores food with a frozen state, and a chilling chamber that stored food with a fresh state, the chambers partitioned from each other by a partition wall; a freezing chamber door and a chilling chamber door coupled to the refrigerator body, for opening and closing the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber; and a freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber evaporator installed at the partition wall of the refrigerator body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator, which shows a freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber evaporator installed at upper and lower sides of a partition wall according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line ‘I-I’ in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a cool air channel of a refrigerator door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the refrigerator, which shows the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator installed at right and left sides of the partition wall according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the refrigerator, which shows the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator installed at the same position of the partition wall according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the refrigerator, which shows the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator installed at one cool air channel formed at the partition wall according to yet still another embodiment of the present invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a refrigerator body 100 having a freezing chamber 110 and a chilling chamber 120 partitioned from each other by a partition wall 130, a freezing chamber door 200 and a chilling chamber door 300 for opening and closing the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 of the refrigerator body 100, and a refrigerant compression type-refrigerating cycle device 400 installed at the refrigerator body 100 and generating cool air.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the refrigerator is a side-by-side type one, the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 are disposed at right and left sides, and are partitioned from each other by the partition wall 130 vertically disposed between the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120. As shown in FIG. 2, at inner right and left sides of the partition wall 130, disposed are a freezing chamber channel 131 (hereinafter, will be referred to as a ‘first refrigerator channel’) and a chilling chamber channel 132 (hereinafter, a ‘second refrigerator channel’) respectively having a freezing chamber evaporator (hereinafter, a ‘first evaporator’) 440 and a chilling chamber evaporator (hereinafter, a ‘second evaporator’) 460 thereby implementing a first cool air channel. One or more freezing chamber cool air outlet (hereinafter, a ‘first refrigerator outlet’) 131 a and one or more chilling chamber cool air outlet (hereinafter, a ‘second refrigerator outlet’) 132 a are formed along each height direction of the first refrigerator channel 131 and the second refrigerator channel 132.

As shown in FIG. 3, at a front side of the partition wall 130, disposed are a freezing chamber door guide channel (hereinafter, a ‘first guide channel’) 131 b and a chilling chamber door guide channel (hereinafter, a ‘second guide channel’) 132 b respectively for guiding cool air inside the first refrigerator channel 131 and the second refrigerator channel 132 to a cool air channel for a freezing chamber door 200 (hereinafter, a ‘first door channel’) 211 and a cool air channel for a chilling chamber door 300 (hereinafter, a ‘second door channel’) 311.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first door channel 211 and the second door channel 311 are respectively formed at the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300 so as to be communicated with the first guide channel 131 b and the second guide channel 132 b of the partition wall 130. One or more first door outlets 211 a and one or more second door outlets 311 a may be formed at the first door channel 211 and the second door channel 311 in each height direction.

When cool air inlets (not shown) are formed at the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 of the refrigerator body 100, cool air can be introduced into the first and second door channels 211 and 311 through the cool air inlets even if additional cool air inlets are not provided at the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300.

The refrigerating cycle device 400 includes one compressor 410; one condenser 420 connected to the compressor 410, for condensing a refrigerant discharged from the compressor 410 with a high temperature and a high pressure; a freezing chamber expansion valve (hereinafter, a ‘first expansion valve’) 430 installed at a freezing chamber refrigerating cycle (hereinafter, a ‘first cycle’ C1) diverged from an exit of the condenser 420, for expanding the refrigerant with a high temperature and a high pressure in correspondence with a preset temperature of the freezing chamber 110; a first evaporator 440 connected to the first expansion valve 430 and installed at the first refrigerator channel 131, for evaporating a refrigerant of a low temperature and a low pressure; a chilling chamber expansion valve (hereinafter, a ‘second expansion valve’) 450 installed at a chilling chamber refrigerating cycle (hereinafter, a ‘second cycle’ C2) diverged from an exit of the condenser 420, for expanding a refrigerant in correspondence with a preset temperature of the chilling chamber 120; a second evaporator 460 connected to the second expansion valve 450 and installed at the second refrigerator channel 132, for evaporating a refrigerant. At each one side of the first evaporator 440 and the second evaporator 460, a freezing chamber fan (hereinafter, a ‘first fan’) 470 and a chilling chamber fan (hereinafter, a ‘second fan’) 480 for blowing cool air cooled through the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 to the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 are respectively formed at the first refrigerator channel 131 and the second refrigerator channel 132 of the partition wall 130.

A refrigerant conversion valve 490 for selectively circulating a refrigerant having passed through the condenser 420 to one of the first cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2) is installed at the exit of the condenser 420. The refrigerant conversion valve 490 may be implemented as a 3-way valve installed at a diverge point between the first cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2), or as a 2-way valve individually installed at the first cycle (C1) and the second cycle (C2). Here, the 3-way is operated to totally close the condenser 420 and the first and second cycles (C1 and C2), or to connect the condenser 420 and the first cycle (C1) with each other, or to connect the condenser 420 and the second cycle (C2) with each other when the refrigerator is driven.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 may be installed on a nearly same plane in the partition wall 130. For example, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 may be installed at the same depth so as to be separated from each other by a certain distance therebetween at upper and lower sides of the partition wall 130. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 may be installed at the same height so as to be separated from each other by a certain distance therebetween in a depth direction. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 may be installed at the same height and at the same depth. When the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 are disposed in upper and lower directions, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 can have a long horizontal length and can be installed at a deep position inside the refrigerator, respectively. When the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 are disposed in a depth direction, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 can be disposed at upper sides of the refrigerator. When the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 are disposed at the same height and at the same depth, the first and second evaporators 440 and 460 can have a long horizontal length and can be installed at an upper side of the refrigerator, respectively.

Unexplained reference numerals 220 and 320 denote door baskets.

Operation and effects of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be explained as follows.

When a load is generated as food items are received in the freezing chamber 110 or the chilling chamber 120 of the refrigerator, the compressor 410 starts to operate thus to compress a refrigerant. Then, the compressed refrigerant is moved to the first cycle (C1) via the condenser 420, and then is introduced into the compressor 410 via the first expansion valve 430 and the first evaporator 440. The compressed refrigerant is moved to the second cycle (C2) via the condenser 420, and then is introduced into the compressor 410 via the second expansion valve 450 and the second evaporator 460. These processes are repeatedly performed. Here, cool air generated from the first evaporator 440 and the second evaporator 460 may be supplied to the freezing chamber 110 by the first fan 470 through the first refrigerator channel 131 and the first refrigerator outlet 131 a, or may be supplied to the chilling chamber 120 by the second fan 480 through the second refrigerator channel 132 and the second refrigerator outlet 132 a. Accordingly, food items stored in the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 can be maintained with a frozen status or a cool status.

Cool air inside the first and second refrigerator channels 131, 132 is introduced into the first and second door channels 211, 311 provided at the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300 through the first and second guide channels 131 b, 132 b communicated with each side surface of the first and second refrigerator channels 131, 132. Also, the cool air is directly supplied to the door baskets 220, 320 of the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300 through the first and second door outlets 211 a, 311 a. Accordingly, food or beverage items stored in the door baskets 220, 320 can be freshly maintained with a frozen state or a cool state.

In order to receive a large amount of food items and to store food items with a fresh state by smoothly supplying cool air, the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 have to have large available capacities. However, when the first and second evaporators are installed at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120, the available capacities of the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber are decreased. To solve the problem, in the present invention, the first and second evaporators 440, 460 are installed inside the partition wall 130 that partitions the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120 from each other. Since additional spaces for installing the first and second evaporators 440, 460 are not required at rear surfaces of the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120, the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber can have a deep depth and a large available capacity, respectively. Furthermore, cool air generated from the first and second evaporators 440, 460 can be directly supplied to the door baskets 220, 320 of the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300 through the first and second door channels 211, 311 formed at the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300. In this case, each temperature difference between the freezing chamber 110 and the door basket 220, and between the chilling chamber 120 and the door basket 320 can be solved, thereby freshly storing food or beverage items received in the door baskets 220, 320.

The refrigerator of the present invention may have other embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, one refrigerator channel 133 having a first cool air channel may be formed in the partition wall 130. A first refrigerator outlet 133 a and a second refrigerator outlet 133 b may be formed at both sides of the refrigerator channel 133, that is, a side surface of the freezing chamber and a side surface of the chilling chamber. Here, one or more evaporators 440, 460 may be installed at the one refrigerator channel 133. And, the freezing chamber fan 470 and the chilling chamber fan 480 may be installed at each periphery of the first and second refrigerator outlets 133 a, 133 b. Although not shown, one fan (not shown) may be installed at rear sides of the evaporators 440, 460, thereby guiding cool air discharged from the fan to be respectively supplied to the freezing chamber 110 and the chilling chamber 120. Here, since the evaporators 440, 460 are installed at the partition wall 130 positioned at a side surface of the refrigerator not a rear surface of the refrigerator, an available capacity inside the refrigerator can be increased. Furthermore, since the first and second door channels 211, 311 and the first and second door outlets 211 a, 311 a are respectively connected to the freezing chamber door 200 and the chilling chamber door 300, food items received in the first and second door baskets 220, 320 can be stored with a fresh state. The refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention has the same effects and configurations as the aforementioned refrigerator, and thus its detailed explanation will be omitted.

The refrigerator according to the present invention has the following advantages.

Since the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed at an inner side of the partition wall that partitions inside of the refrigerator into the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber, each depth of the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber becomes deep. Accordingly, each available capacity of the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber can be increased, and thus a large amount of food items can be stored in the refrigerator with a fresh state.

Furthermore, the cool air channel is connected to the freezing chamber door and the chilling chamber door, thereby not causing a temperature difference between the refrigerator body and the door basket. Accordingly, food items or beverage items received in the door basket can be stored with a fresh state.

The refrigerator according to the present invention can be applied not only to a side-by-side type, but also to any refrigerator having a partition wall therein.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having an inner space opened/closed by a refrigerator door; a partition wall having one or more first cool air channels therein and having a predetermined thickness and area, for partitioning the inner space of the refrigerator body into two ore more spaces; one or more evaporators installed at the first cool air channels of the partition wall, for generating cool air; and one or more fans installed at the first cool air channel, for supplying cool air generated from the evaporator to the corresponding space.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first cool air channel is implemented in plurality in number so as to be respectively communicated with the spaces inside the refrigerator, and one or more evaporators and fans are installed at each of the first cool air channels.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein one first cool air channel is formed at the spaces so as to be communicated with the spaces, one or more evaporators are installed at the first cool air channel, and a plurality of fans are installed at both sides of the first cool air channel so as to respectively supply cool air generated from the evaporator into each space inside the refrigerator.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a second cool air channel is formed at the refrigerator door so as to be communicated with the first cool air channel, and a cool air outlet for supplying cool air guided through the second cool air channel to the respective spaces is formed at an inner wall surface of the refrigerator door.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein one or more door baskets are installed at an inner wall surface of the refrigerator door, and the cool air outlet is formed at each of the door baskets so as to be communicated therewith.
 6. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a freezing chamber that stores food with a frozen state, and a chilling chamber that stored food with a fresh state, the chambers partitioned from each other by a partition wall; a freezing chamber door and a chilling chamber door coupled to the refrigerator body, for opening and closing the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber; and a freezing chamber evaporator and a chilling chamber evaporator installed at the partition wall of the refrigerator body.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed so as to have a predetermined gap therebetween in a height direction.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed so as to have a predetermined gap therebetween in a depth direction.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are installed such that one or more parts thereof are communicated with each other.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein a plurality of first cool air channels for guiding cool air generated from the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator into the refrigerator are formed at the partition wall, and one or more second cool air channels are formed at least one of the freezing chamber door and the chilling chamber door so as to be communicated with the first cool air channel.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein one or more cool air outlets are formed at an inner wall surface of the freezing chamber door or the chilling chamber door so that the second cool air channel can be communicated with each door basket of the freezing chamber door and the chilling chamber door.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezing chamber evaporator and the chilling chamber evaporator are individually connected to one compressor by a 3-way valve, or are closed by the 3-way valve.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising one or more fans installed at the first cool air channel for supplying cool air generated from the freezing chamber evaporator or the chilling chamber evaporator to the corresponding space. 